KEVIN Rooney, who was the subject of a Sexual Offences Prevention Order, killed 74-year-old Rosina Sutherland in her sheltered cottage in Edinburgh in 2011.

A DANGEROUS sex attacker was placed in a B&B without police knowledge close to where he went on to rape and murder an OAP, a shock report has revealed.

A string of blunders left Kevin Rooney free to kill dementia ­sufferer Rosina Sutherland, 74, in her ­sheltered cottage in Edinburgh in 2011, an inquiry found.

Rooney was jailed in 2012 for a minimum of 21 years.

He was the subject of a ­Sexual Offences Prevention Order designed to protect the public from Scotland’s most dangerous attackers.

But when he was bailed in September 2011 after a bust-up, he was moved on October 27 by ­Edinburgh City Council into Longstone Guest House, just yards from a children’s nursery.

Landlady Wendy Halstead insisted no one from the police, social services or housing checked up on Rooney, who had 33 previous convictions.

When found by police after Rosina’s death, he was using her walking stick.

A significant case review by Detective Chief Inspector Phil Gachagan said police were not immediately informed by City of Edinburgh Council that Rooney had been placed in the B&B.

He also found “no evidence” that ­formal recorded joint discussions were held about Rooney in the 18 months before the murder.

The police chief criticised Rooney’s lack of stable accommodation, adding: “The practice of placing homeless sex offenders in B&B accommodation, unless it is a housing of last resort, should be discouraged.”

Despite the findings, DCI Gachagan’s conclusion blamed only Rooney.

Rosina’s family called for a fatal ­accident inquiry. Their lawyer Cameron Fyfe said: “They feel the current system is utterly inadequate, and only an FAI will highlight where the failings were.”

Police Scotland and Edinburgh City Council issued a statement, saying: “We will agree a way forward in responding to the report in consultation with them (the family).”